Artyom Kochukov

Renovation of the former Red Triangle factory Artyom Kochukov

The problem of abandoned industrial areas in St Petersburg is particularly acute. Large industrial areas, formerly on the outskirts, are becoming a central part of the city due to rapid development. The old industrial district, or the 'grey belt' as it is called, has divided the city into two parts, the central and the dormitory districts. A polycenter has long been called for in this area. The idea is not to make the area an "exclusion zone", but a kind of polycenter where some people would stay and relieve the burden of the historical centre. By establishing a polycentre within the old industrial area, the existing architectural and planning environment needs to be re-functionalized. Enterprises which were previously located in these areas have either disbanded or relocated their plants outside the boundaries of the urban environment.